PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS, ACCOUNTS, AND PAPERS RELATING TO MAURITIUS AND. ITS DEPENDENCIES.

Year.

Sessional
Number.

Parliamentary Reports, &c.

Accounts of the revenues of Mauritius. Return of civil officers at Mauritius. Papers relating to the colonial trade of Mauritius.

Return of regiments stationed in Mauritius.

Return of the quantity of cotton exported from the Seychelles Islands in each year since the period of their occupation.

Abstract of revenue and expenditure of Mauritius, money raised, debts paid off.

Copies of Mauritius Ordinances for regulating the relative duties of masters and employers and articled servants and labourers there.

Papers relating to the introduction of Indian labourers.

Correspondence relating to the immigration of Indian labourers into Mauritius.

Papers relating to the state of the labouring population of Mauritius.

Despatches from the Governor and memorials from the Mauritius Association relative to the trade and finances of the island.

Despatch from the Governor to the Secretary of State, with report on the state of the rural districts of Mauritius.

ST. HELENA AND ASCENSION ISLAND.

St. Helena is situate 1200 miles from the African coast. The observatory is in 15° 55′ S. latitude, and in 5° 44′ W. longitude. The island comprises an area of about 30,000 acres. It was discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, and afterwards held by the Dutch, who abandoned it in 1651; and from that time till the renewal of their Charter in 1833, it was held by the English East India Company. It was in the latter year surrendered to the Crown, and is now governed by a military officer aided by a Council, of which the Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the troops are members, having been appointed by warrant under His Majesty's sign manual in conformity with the Order in Council, dated October 12, 1835.

The salary of the Governor was, in 1854, £2000 per annum.*

ASCENSION ISLAND was discovered on Ascension Day in 1501, and taken possession of by the English in 1815. The fort is situate in latitude 7° 56′ S., longitude 14° 26' W. The island comprises an area of about 35 square miles.

*By patent, dated June 25, 1847, St. Helena was included in the episcopal diocese of Cape Town, constituted by that patent.

ORDERS IN COUNCIL RELATING TO ST. HELENA.

Year.

Orders in Council.

1835

1836

1839

1840

1843

1845

1850

1851

1852

1853

(April 1.) For making provision for the administration of the civil affairs of the island on its transfer from the East India Company to the Crown, with warrant under His Majesty's sign manual to the Civil Commissioner appointed. (Revoked by Order, October 12, 1835.)

(May 20.) Approving device of new seal for the Government of the island.

(October 26.) For establishing a Vice-Admiralty Court at the island.

(June 3.) Approving, with amendments, an Ordinance of the Governor in Council amending and consolidating the laws relating to taxes.

(July 11.) Regulating the duties of Customs in the

island.

(January 15.) For carrying into effect an Ordinance of the Governor in Council respecting counterfeit coins. (See Order, July 15, 1843.)

(December 13.) Authorising the duties of Customs to be paid and received according to imperial weights and measures.

(September 13.) Confirming an Ordinance of the Governor in Council for levying a tonnage duty on all merchant vessels trading to the island-the dues to be applied to the erection of a civil hospital.

(November 20.) Placing trade of France with St. Helena on same footing as with other British possessions. (November 20.) Confirming two Ordinances passed by Governor in Council: 1. Imposing duty on all boats used as tanks for watering vessels, and on pleasure-boats; 2. Respecting issue of licences.

(January 8.) Imposing tonnage duty on all merchant vessels in aid of the erection of an hospital and prison on the island.

(June 25.) Approving certain rules of the ViceAdmiralty Court in slave trade and other cases.

(January 10.) Permitting the free importation of oil into the island.

(April 5.) Enabling the Governor to act as Chief Justice.

(February 21.) Confirming an Ordinance of September 9, 1852, respecting certain duties of Customs.

ACTS OF IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT RELATING TO ST. HELENA.

Year.

1816

Acts of Parliament.

(April 11.) 56 Geo. III. cap. 23.-An Act for regulating the intercourse with the island of St. Helena during the time Napoleon Bonaparte was detained there.

PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS, ACCOUNTS, AND PAPERS RELATING TO ST. HELENA.

CHAPTER V.

AMERICAN DEPENDENCIES.

Sect. I. NORTHERN,-Comprising CANADA-EAST AND WEST, NOVA SCOTIA, NEW BRUNSWICK, NEWFOUNDLAND, PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND, THE HUDSON'S BAY TERRITORIES, VANCOUVER'S ISLAND, and Bermudas.

Sect. II.-CENTRAL,-Comprising HONDURAS and the ANTILLES, or WEST INDIA ISLANDS.

Sect. III. SOUTHERN,-Comprising BRITISH GUIANA, THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, and PITCAIRN.

SECT. I.-NORTHERN AMERICAN DEPENDENCIES.

CANADA

CANADA.

ANADA* comprises that portion of the NorthAmerican continent, which is situate between the parallels of 42° and 53° north latitude, and the meridians of 64° and 90° west longitude, being an area of about 350,000 square miles, including both provinces. East Canada was discovered by Giovanni Gaboto, a Venetian, holding a commission from Henry VII. of England, in 1497, but immediately afterwards fell into the possession of France, to which power it was formally ceded, in 1632, by the treaty of St. Germains, and so remained till 1759, when it was conquered by the British, under General Wolfe, * Called from an Indian word Kanata, a cluster of huts.